The Most Common Types of Therapy
The most common types of therapy offered by mental health professionals include both talk and non-talk varieties. One major difference between the two types is that patients in talk therapies, such as psychotherapy and counseling, can expect to share emotional experiences with a therapist, whereas people in non-talk therapies (or alternative therapies) are not directly engaging with a therapist. Sessions can be conducted in person or online. Online sessions introduced on https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/534154/best-online-therapy/ can be joined remotely through telephone calls, email, or secure video chats.
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is arguably the most well-known type of talk therapy. It includes a variety of techniques, including identifying relationships between an individual’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors; making connections between childhood experiences and adult life; recognizing patterns in one’s relationships; examining how one’s thoughts influence their feelings; helping individuals express themselves more effectively (and productively), and fostering insight. A large part of the process is often spent encouraging patients to talk about their experiences in order to help them better understand themselves.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on how an individual’s thoughts influence their feelings and behaviors. CBT is typically used to help patients understand how past experiences influence current feelings and behaviors, how negative thoughts can contribute to depression and anxiety, and how irrational thinking can make a person more vulnerable to stress or trauma. It also teaches practical skills that can be applied in daily life.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on mindfulness and acceptance. The main goal of DBT is to help patients regulate their emotions and improve their relationships with others. It is often used in the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD).
4. Group Therapy
Group therapy involves two or more patients and one or two therapists. It is a way for people with similar problems to support each other’s efforts to change while providing an opportunity for individuals to get feedback from others and learn from their experiences.
5. Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis involves the analysis of patients’ unconscious thoughts, motivations and emotions as they pertain to past and present relationships. It is a non-directive form of therapy that encourages patients to talk freely about their thoughts and feelings, without interruption from the analyst. Psychoanalysis is based on the idea that conflict between conscious and unconscious ideas can manifest in a number of mental health disorders.
6. Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is another form of psychotherapy that is based on the idea that a person’s mood can be negatively affected by their thoughts and beliefs. The primary goal of cognitive therapy is to change distorted thinking patterns that cause distress or increase a person’s risk for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying problems in thinking, exploring how these thought processes contribute to a person’s mood and emotions, and how this process can be changed.